Yes! Global Flex is designed to allow you to take the courses you need while studying abroad.

You must be enrolled in at least 12 credits total during the semester, as combined with ASU courses and in-person courses. (During the summer, you can take six credits.) The format that you take these classes is up to you. No more than six credits can be completed in-person. The remaining 6+ credits must be completed through ASU courses online, as Session A or B classes. 

It’s best to start with the ASU course search to find the ASU courses to take. Your academic advisor will be the best point of contact to find which ASU courses will count towards your degree progress. The in-person courses offered each semester can be found in the Course Matrix on the Course Info tab of the program brochure. 

The in-person courses feel like a Session A/B course at ASU, since they are 6 weeks long and tend to be similar academically to ASU courses. Students doing well in ASU courses don’t tend to have much trouble with the CIEE courses abroad. CIEE is very strict on attendance since you are going over a lot of information in 6 weeks, so be sure to go to class. Remember the classes you take abroad will count towards your ASU GPA. Your in-person courses will include co-curricular field trips to get you out of the classroom and exploring your study abroad city!

In-person courses are held at the CIEE Center, not at different universities abroad. At the CIEE Center, you'll learn from local professors hired by CIEE. 

CIEE stands for the Council of International Educational Exchange and they are the program provider for the Global Flex program. CIEE arranges the onsite aspects of the program for students, from things like housing, to activities, and can provide help if needed while you are abroad. You will interact with both GEO and CIEE staff throughout the Global Flex program application process. 

Like how we have Session A and B at ASU, CIEE splits their semester up into 3 six-week blocks, so you can choose how long and when you want to be abroad. These blocks are broken into Block I, Block II and Block III. You will have CIEE support during each block. You may choose to spend one block, two blocks or all three blocks abroad. 

Global Flex is available to all ASU degree-seeking students, with at least a 2.5 GPA. 

Can graduate students do Global Flex?

Yes, graduate students are eligible to do the program, but there are a couple of things to consider. Undergraduate students mostly participate in the program, so that is who you will interact with most of the time and who will be in CIEE housing as your roommates. You will not receive grad credit through the CIEE in-person courses. Program costs also do not display graduate tuition rates. CIEE will allow non-traditional students to opt-out of CIEE housing, but if you are considering not taking any CIEE courses and also opting out of the CIEE housing, there is not a ton of benefit to doing the program overall. 

Can international students do Global Flex?

During the semester, Global Flex presents some challenges for international students that are on an F-1 visa at ASU. For an F-1 visa, students need to take at least 9 credits in-person, but the maximum amount of in-person credits allowed through the Global Flex program is 6 credits, so international students would lose their F-1 visa status if they do the program. International students can consider the CIEE: Semester Open Campus Block program for a similar experience to the Global Flex program, while maintaining full time in-person course enrollment. The summer term does not have the same 9 credit requirement, so the ASU Summer Global Flex: Study program could be an option to consider.

Can ASU Online students do Global Flex?

Yes! Definitely. Global Flex is a great program choice for ASU Online students as you’ll take your ASU Online courses as usual, but also have the option to take in-person classes or do an internship. This may be the first time you’ll get to interact with your peers and engage in a traditional classroom setting (without the full-time immersion commitment).

An internship is a great opportunity for you to start building your resume, and gaining work experience that will help you experience your future field first-hand. No previous work experience is required for an internship. Through the personalized placement process, you’ll find an internship that fits your skill level, experience and interests.

During the application process, you’ll select which credit you would like to earn for your internship. After applications close, students who have signed up for an internship will be connected with a CIEE advisor to schedule a pre-placement meeting to go over your internship goals and preferences. Then, CIEE sources the internship placement and you complete an informational interview with the internship supervisor to make sure it is a good fit for everyone. 

Internships are in either block II or block III, so they are short, 6-week long internships. Students intern around 25 hours a week at the placement and then attend an internship seminar course once a week.

Yes! Housing is included in your program fee and arranged for you. Depending on your selected locations, you may live in an on-campus residence hall, a hotel, in a shared apartment or in a homestay. If you decide to change locations during your time abroad, new housing will be provided for you at the next location.

To see more information on housing, please look at the "Location and Housing" tab of the program brochure.

Yes, the Global Education Office holds a Meet & Greet event for all ASU students going abroad the semester before a student’s program. Students who are accepted or confirmed to Partnership and Exchange programs are invited to the event. 

You will also have the opportunity to opt-in to contact sharing if you are accepted to the program. If you opt-in, you will be provided with a list of everyone else’s email addresses that have also opted in. Then later in the process, you’ll complete a pre-departure orientation Canvas course through CIEE, where you can connect with students outside of ASU who will be abroad with you.

You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow study abroad students during your program, by participating in the events, activities and excursions held through CIEE.